WE.Circular at Voogle Conference 2025 in Varazdin in Croatia

The WE.Circular project continued its active engagement across the Danube Region with a two-day programme in Varaždin, Croatia, held on 29–30 October 2025. The event brought together project partners, stakeholders, and regional actors to exchange knowledge, present results, and shape strategic directions for supporting women entrepreneurs in the circular and digital transitions.

Participation in Voogle Conference 2025

As part of the broader Voogle Conference, WE.Circular hosted a dedicated Dissemination Event at the Croatian National Theatre in Varaždin (HNK). The session was streamed online and featured presentations from key project representatives:

• Mariya Zlateva (RAPIV) introduced the WE.Circular project and its mission to boost digital and business skills among women entrepreneurs in the Danube Region.

• Eszter Balogh-Tanka (MGFU) explored current trends in circular economy as reflected through other project activities implemented by MGFU.

• Monika Maksimović (Strela) shared a practical example of successful implementation, highlighting the role of social entrepreneurship and local innovation.

The dissemination event attracted interest from the local audience, conference attendees, and online participants, reinforcing the project’s visibility at the intersection of innovation, sustainability, and gender equality.

3rd Thematic Task Group Meeting

In the afternoon, the project team held the 3rd Thematic Task Group meeting, where partners reviewed progress in the pilot testing of the training programme. The session also involved a validation process with members of the Advisory Board, who provided useful feedback on the content and structure of the learning tools developed within the project.

Transnational Stakeholder Group Meeting and Regional Action Plans Peer Review

The second day featured the Transnational Stakeholder Group Meeting, hosted at Technology Park Varaždin. This session served as a peer-review platform for the Regional Action Plans developed by project partner for each project country. Presentations were followed by Q&A sessions and feedback from stakeholders and Advisory Board members, helping refine the RAPs and align them with national and regional policy frameworks.

In addition to reviewing the action plans, partners discussed:

• Next steps for pilot testing of six circular business models;

• The draft structure of the Transnational Strategy for Women’s Circular Transition;

• Organisational aspects of the upcoming Pop-Up Store event in Bratislava.

Collaboration, culture, and networking

The programme also included a cultural evening, featuring a storytelling session on the topic “The History of Witches and the Construction of Female Identity,” as well as a networking dinner at a Michelin-recommended restaurant in the city. These activities further strengthened collaboration and built community among the transnational partners.